LANCASTER, Calif - Mike Foltynewicz stood in the doorway of the clubhouse at Hangar Park on Monday afternoon, staring at tumbleweeds scooting across the infield, about the limit of his visibility through a raging dust storm.

It seemed as if the last thing he wanted to do that night was pitch for the Lancaster JetHawks, the Astros' high Class A affiliate.

I was happy to inform him he could take the night off.

A few moments after I entered the park, a JetHawks spokesman said he was about to announce the game against Elsinore, Calif., had been postponed due to high winds, which were steady at 40 mph, not all that unusual for the Mojave Desert in the spring, but with gusts up to 70.

The spokesman said both managers decided it would be unsafe to send hitters against pitchers they could barely see, not to mention pitches, giving a whole new meaning to "dusting off.''

"We have one of those fly-ball machines for outfield practice,'' Foltynewicz (Fol-ta-NEV-ich) said. "I've seen the ball go almost to the fence and blow back to first base. But this is incredible.''

More runs are scored in the Cal League than in any other in organized baseball. Because of the altitude (2,300 feet), dry desert air and winds, more runs are scored at Hangar Park than at any other in the Cal League except one.

Some major league organizations choose not to send their best young pitching prospects to the Cal League because they don't want their confidence destroyed, begging the question of why the Astros do.

Foltynewicz acknowledged he has asked himself that question, especially after his first start here last week, when, unlike the scenario he mentioned before, the wind was blowing out. In 22⁄3 innings, he allowed six hits, five earned runs, two homers and four walks.

He was hoping to redeem himself Tuesday night, when the wind was not expected to blow at much over 10 mph.

Highly regarded

According to Baseball America, Foltynewicz, 21, is the Astros' second-best young pitching prospect, ranked higher than Brad Peacock, 24, who is the fourth starter in Houston.

Foltynewicz, a righthander, has perhaps the liveliest arm in the organization, with a fastball routinely between 94 and 97 mph and occasionally touching 100.

He started in the 2012 Sally League All-Star Game while pitching for Lexington, the Astros' low Class A team at the time, and was named the league's outstanding pitcher.

Many thought Foltynewicz, after developing more command of his pitches during his second year in Lexington, might skip high A and earn an assignment at Class AA Corpus Christi.

But the Astros didn't want him to miss the Lancaster "experience.'' If you can pitch here, you can pitch anywhere.

They had success in Lancaster last season with Nick Tropeano, the best pitcher for the only team in the Astros' farm system to win a league crown. Tropeano, 22, started this season in Corpus Christi.

"They sent me out here,'' Foltynewicz said. "It wasn't my choice. But I know they just want me to learn to pitch better.

"In 2011 and part of 2012, I'd just go out and throw the ball through a brick wall. Controlling my fastball was my weak point. I've gotten a lot better at it, but I can still improve things. It teaches you to pitch out here.''

It certainly teaches you to become a ground-ball pitcher.

Rodney Linares, who returned this season as the JetHawks' manager, said he could envision Foltynewicz at some point as not merely a major league starter but a No. 1 starter.

No shortage of stuff

"I love Tropeano and some of the other great arms in the organization,'' Linares said. "But Folty has all the stuff to be a No. 1 in the big leagues.

"He's got the fastball, the breaking ball, the changeup. He's also got that No. 1 starter attitude. The conditions here will torment you, but he won't let them get to him. He doesn't lack for confidence.''

Foltynewicz said he has his sights on becoming a No. 1, nothing less.

"I've been a No. 1 since high school,'' he said. "My goal is to be a No. 1 at the highest level. That's something I can see myself doing in five or six years: being No. 1 for the Astros.''

Of course, anything can happen before he is ready for the major leagues. Injuries are always a concern with young pitchers. One Astros prospect who earned a place on their roster was Alex White, 25, who didn't make it to opening day before it was determined he needed Tommy John surgery.

Foltynewicz has a strong arm. He might, however, need to build up his legs to outrun tumbling tumbleweeds.